Articles with electrical charging surfaces

ABSTRACT

An electrical article with cord-free charging zone provides users in a work area with access to low-voltage charging for portable electronic devices, in which electrical current is conveyed upon placement of an electronic device within the charging zone. The electrical article is configured for use in a work area, and includes a housing, a low voltage charging zone with power unit, and an electrical power input. The charging zone is defined along at least a portion of an upper surface of the housing. The low voltage power unit is operable to cordlessly convey electrical power to a portable electrical or electronic device that is positioned at the low voltage charging zone.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims the benefit of U.S. provisionalapplication Ser. No. 61/884,440, filed Sep. 30, 2013, which is herebyincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to electrical power systems for providingusers with access to cordless electrical power within a work area.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

High voltage AC electrical power receptacles or outlets are commonlylocated in work areas, such as at or near work surfaces, in walls, infloors, and in ceilings. Low voltage and electronic data receptacles arealso becoming increasingly common with the increase of small andhand-held electronic devices, from laptop computers to smart phones.Such portable electronic devices typically require a direct electricalconnection to a low voltage power source, such as for charging purposes,so that a separate electrical cord and/or a DC transformer are alsoneeded to power such devices from electrical outlets that are commonlyavailable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides electrical articles that include lowvoltage charging areas for powering or charging portable electronicdevices that are placed in, on, or near the charging area of aparticular article or device. The article or device typically alsoprovides some other function or electrical access that is useful in awork area, such as direct-connection electrical outlets, lighting, audioor video display, or the like. Thus, a user may simply place acompatible portable electronic device within a charging area of theelectrical article, and charge or supply electrical current to thedevice without need for separate wiring or an extra step of establishinga direct electrical connection between the electrical article and theportable electronic device.

According to one aspect of the present invention, an electrical articleis configured for use in a work area, and includes a housing with anupper surface, a low voltage DC charging area, a low voltage DC powerunit, and an electrical power input. The low voltage DC charging area isdefined along at least a portion of the upper surface of the housing,and the low voltage DC power unit is disposed in the housing. The lowvoltage DC power unit has a low voltage DC power output at the lowvoltage charging area. The electrical power input is configured todirect electrical power from a power source, such as a high voltage ACpower source, to the low voltage DC power unit. The low voltage DC powerunit is operable to convey low voltage DC electrical power to a portableelectrical or electronic device that is positioned at the low voltage DCcharging area, and without need for an electrical cord to be coupled tothe portable electrical or electronic device.

Optionally, the low voltage DC power unit includes an electrical powerconverter that is operable to convert incoming high voltage AC powerreceived from the electrical power input to the low voltage DC poweroutput.

In one aspect, the article further includes an electrical receptacle oroutlet, such as a high voltage AC receptacle or a low voltage DCreceptacle, which is disposed along the housing. The electricalreceptacle is configured to establish a direct electrical connectionupon engagement with a corresponding electrical contact of an electricalconsumer. Optionally, the electrical receptacle is electrically coupledto the same electrical power input that directs power to the low voltageDC power unit. Optionally, the article includes an electronic display atthe housing.

In another aspect, the low voltage power output has first and secondexposed electrical conductors that are in a spaced and substantiallyco-planar arrangement at the low voltage DC charging area of thehousing.

In yet another aspect, the low voltage power output is in the form of awireless inductive electrical power output at the low voltage DCcharging area of the housing.

In still another aspect, the housing is configured to be supported at awork surface, such as a desk or table. Optionally, a clamp is coupled tothe housing and is spaced below the low voltage DC charging area. Aportion of the clamp is movable and configured to engage an underside ofthe work surface to thereby secure the housing to the work surface.

Therefore, the present invention provides convenient and cord-freeaccess to low voltage charging areas, in which a user need only place aportable electronic device within a certain charging area or zone alongor near an electrical article in order to supply electrical current tothe portable electronic device. The electrical articles that providethis access may generally be used to provide other electrical and/orelectronic access within a work area or the like, so that the cord-freelow voltage charging areas may be provided in areas or along surfacesthat are otherwise unused in the work area. This reduces or eliminateswiring complexity, because the charging areas typically do not requiretheir own wiring, and provides added functionality for devices that arealready commonly found in work areas.

These and other objects, advantages, purposes and features of thepresent invention will become apparent upon review of the followingspecification in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a desk lamp with a low voltage chargingarea in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 1B is another perspective view of the desk lamp of FIG. 1A, inwhich the lamp is positioned along a work surface adjacent a portableelectronic device;

FIG. 1C is another perspective view of the desk lamp, work surface, andelectronic device of FIG. 1B, in which the electronic device is restingon the charging area and receiving electrical current from the area;

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of an aperture-mountable retractable lampand power receptacle assembly with a low voltage charging area inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2B is another perspective view of the retractable lamp and powerreceptacle assembly of FIG. 2A, in which the assembly is positioned inan aperture in a work surface adjacent a hand-held rechargeableelectronic device;

FIG. 2C is another perspective view of the retractable lamp and powerreceptacle assembly, work surface, and electronic device of FIG. 2B, inwhich the electronic device is resting on the charging area andreceiving electrical current from the area;

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of an surface-supportable electrical powerunit with low voltage charging area in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 3B is another perspective view of the electrical power unit of FIG.3A, in which the electrical power unit is electrically energized via aconventional wall outlet and a hand-held rechargeable electronic deviceis spaced above the electrical power unit;

FIG. 3C is another perspective view of the electrical power unit andelectronic device of FIG. 3B, in which the electronic device is restingon the charging area and receiving electrical current from the area;

FIG. 4A is a perspective view of an edge-mountable electrical power unitwith low voltage charging area in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4B is a perspective view of an aperture-mountable electrical powerunit with low voltage charging area in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 4C is a perspective view of another surface-supportable electricalpower unit with low voltage charging area in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 5A is a perspective view of a pop-up style aperture-mountableelectrical power unit with low voltage charging area in accordance withthe present invention, shown in a closed configuration;

FIG. 5B is a perspective view of the electrical power unit of FIG. 5A,shown in an open configuration;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a video display unit with low voltagecharging area in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a side elevation of an electrical power unit with low voltagecharging area in accordance with the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Various work area articles are equipped fitted with low voltage chargingareas that permit powering and/or charging of portable electronic and/orelectrical devices, such as hand-held computers, mobile phones,entertainment devices, and the like, while reducing or eliminating theneed for electrical power wiring or cords to the portable devices.Referring now to the drawings and the illustrative embodiments depictedtherein, an electrical article in the form of a table lamp 10 includes ahousing or base 12, a lamp portion 14, and a mounting arm 16 connectingthe lamp portion 14 to the base 12, the mounting arm 16 having aproximal end portion coupled to base 12 and a distal end portion coupledto lamp portion 14 (FIGS. 1A-1C). A power cord 18 serves as anelectrical power input to base 12, and is directly electrically coupledto a wall-mounted high voltage AC electrical outlet 20, such as shown inFIGS. 1B and 1C. Base 12 includes a cordless charging zone 22 along anupper surface 24 of the base, and further includes a low voltage DCpower receptacle or outlet 26 and a high voltage AC power receptacle oroutlet 28 along a sidewall 30 of the base 12.

Base 12 is configured to rest on a work surface such as a desk or table32, and its cordless charging zone 22 is sized and shaped to receive andsupport a portable electronic device 34, such as a mobile telephone, ahand-held computer and/or music and/or video entertainment device, orthe like, such as shown in FIGS. 1B and 1C. An electrical powertransmission unit 36 is positioned inside the housing 12. Powertransmission unit 36 receives incoming high voltage AC electrical power(such as 110V or 220V) from power cord 18, and directs high and/or lowvoltage current (utilizing a power converter as necessary) to supplyappropriate electrical power to lamp portion 14, cordless charging zone22, low voltage power receptacle 26, and high voltage power receptacle28.

Cordless charging zone 22 may utilize different cordless technologies todirect electrical current to portable electronic device 34. For example,charging zone 22 may employ an inductive power coupler that receiveselectrical power from electrical power transmission unit 36, which iscompatible with an inductive power coupler associated with portableelectronic device 34. It is envisioned that the inductive power couplersmay be suitable for transferring sufficient electrical power across somedistance of space or gap between cordless charging zone 22 and portableelectronic device 34, such as if a book, clothing article, or othernon-signal-blocking object were placed directly atop charging zone 22,with the portable electronic device 34 placed atop the book or object.

Optionally, charging zone 22 may employ a cordless charging padincluding a plurality of low voltage DC conductive elements 38 ofalternating polarity, with adjacent conductive elements being spacedapart or otherwise electrically insulated from one another (FIGS.1A-1C). Conductive elements 38 may be substantially co-planar with oneanother at the charging zone 22 of the housing 12, and to reduce thelikelihood of a short circuit the conductive elements having positivepolarity may be positioned at least slightly above or below theconductive elements having negative polarity. The cordless charging padis configured to supply electrical power to the portable electronicdevice 34 that is resting directly on the pad, such as shown in FIG. 1C.Similar charging pads are disclosed and more fully described inco-pending and commonly-owned U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/385,008, filed Jan. 27, 2012 (U.S. Publication No. 2012/0200989),which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.Suitable charging pad technologies are also marketed and sold by PureEnergy Solutions, Inc. of Boulder, Colo., for example.

Low voltage power receptacle 26 may be a USB-style DC receptacle(shown), or substantially any other type of receptacle that establishesan electrical connection via direct contact with electrical contacts ofan electrical consumer, such as a laptop computer, a mobile phone,handheld computer or other rechargeable device, low voltage lighting andelectrical appliances, or the like, which may be electrically coupledvia a power cord and/or connector. High voltage power receptacle 28 maybe a conventional 110V or 220V AC receptacle, of the same or differentstyle than that of wall outlet 20. It is envisioned that the electricalcurrent supplying low voltage power receptacle 26, high voltage powerreceptacle 28, and lamp portion 14 may be routed through electricalpower transmission unit 36, or may be supplied directly from power cord18, without departing from the spirit and scope of the presentinvention. Optionally, one or more switches may be provided on the tablelamp 10 (or other article) in order to control the lamp portion 14 orother electrical receptacles or the charging zone. Such switches mayindividually control power directed to respective receptacles, thecharging zone, and/or the lamp portion, or may simultaneously energizeand de-energize two or more of the receptacles, the charging zone,and/or the lamp portion.

It is envisioned that various other electrical articles may incorporateelectrical charging surfaces for the cordless charging or energizing ofportable electronic devices. For example, and with reference to FIGS.2A-2C, a work surface-mounted retractable light assembly 40 includes abody or housing 42 for mounting in an opening or slot in a work surface44. Light assembly 40 has a raisable and lowerable lamp portion 46 that,when raised, permits access to a cordless charging zone 48 and a pair ofhigh voltage AC power receptacles 28 at an upper end of housing 42. Anadjustable bracket 50 (FIG. 2A) is mounted on either side of housing 42,and allows light assembly 40 to be clamped to work surface 44. Forexample, cordless charging zone 48 may be an inductive power coupler, ormay be a cordless charging pad including a plurality of low voltageconductive elements, similar to charging zone 22 described above. Thus,cordless charging zone 48 is operable to cordlessly convey electricalcurrent to portable electronic device 34 when the device is placed on orsufficiently close to the cordless charging zone 48, such as shown inFIG. 2C. Other details, features, and aspects of the retractable lightassembly 40 are more fully described in commonly-owned U.S. Pat. No.8,721,124, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety.

Referring to FIGS. 3A-3C, a work surface-supported power and/or datacenter 52 includes a housing 54 having a pair of low voltage DC and/ordata receptacles 26, a pair of high voltage AC power receptacles 28, apower cord 18, and a cordless charging zone 56 forming substantially theentire upper surface of the power and/or data center 52. A power cord 18supplies electrical power to the power and/or data center 52, which isoperable to convey electrical current to a portable electronic device 34placed atop the outlet center (FIG. 3C), such as in a manner describedabove.

Various other types of work surface-supported power and/or data outletcenters are envisioned, which would have different mountingarrangements, but functional and electrical attributes would be similaror substantially identical to those described above. For example, anedge-mountable power and/or data center 58 (FIG. 4A) and ahole-mountable power and/or data center 60 (FIG. 4B) may be electricallyand structurally identical to one another, except for the base ormounting hardware, which may be interchangeable with the same housing54, such as in a manner that is more fully described in commonly-ownedU.S. Pat. No. 6,379,182, and in U.S. patent application, Ser. No.14/269,247, filed May 5, 2014, both of which are hereby incorporatedherein by reference in their entireties.

Work surface-supported power and/or data outlet centers may be sized andshaped as desired, and may include substantially any number and/or styleof power and/or electronic data outlets. For example, and with referenceto FIG. 4C, another power and/or data outlet center 62 is generallysquare in shape when viewed from above (and trapezoidal when viewed fromthe side), and can support at least one power or data outlet on eachside, with a generally square cordless charging zone 64 at its topsurface. Another cordless charging zone 66 may be incorporated into asurface of a pop-up power and/or data outlet center 68 that retractsinto a work surface (FIGS. 5A and 5B), such as in a manner that is morefully described in commonly-owned U.S. Pat. No. 8,295,036, which ishereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Cordlesscharging zone 66 may be utilized in the closed position of FIG. 5A whencharging zone 66 is substantially horizontal, and may also be utilizedin the open position of FIG. 5B, when charging zone 66 is sloped, suchas by partially supporting the portable electronic device at a bezel orflange portion 70 a of a housing 70 of the power and/or data center 68.

Optionally, and with reference to FIG. 6, another cordless charging zone72 may be incorporated into a support tray 74 for a video display 76such as a television or computer monitor or the like. In the embodimentof FIG. 6, video display 76 is mounted on support tray 74, which in turnis coupled to a wall surface via an articulating arm 78 and a mountingbracket 80. Optionally, it is envisioned that the display could bemounted at a desk or other work surface, or in another manner, with thepower supplied to video display 76 also being used to supply power tocordless charging zone 72. Optionally, low voltage outlets 26 may beprovided along the support tray 74, as well as high voltage outlets orother power and/or data receptacles. Optionally, an outer housing 77 forthe display 76 may incorporate a cordless charging zone and anyadditional electrical outlets.

Other types of electrical articles that can be adapted to incorporatecordless charging zones include another power and/or data center 82(FIG. 7), in which an electrical power transmission unit 84 is mountedto a device support 86 that is configured to support a portableelectronic device 34 in an upright orientation. Device support 86includes a lower cradle portion 88 that retains the portable electronicdevice(s) 34, and defines a cordless charging zone 90 that is alignedwith transmission unit 84. Device support 86 thus allows the devices 34to be recharged and/or energized by transmission unit 84 while thedevices remain in an upright orientation for use. Power and/or datacenter 82 may be similar to those which are more fully described incommonly-owned U.S. Pat. No. 7,736,178, for example, which is herebyincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Accordingly, the electrical articles of the present invention providecordless charging zones for portable electronic devices within a workarea or the like. When the cordless charging zone is energized, theportable electronic device can be placed atop or in the charging zone inorder to convey electrical current to the device, without the need foradditional connections. At the same time, the electrical articles mayprovide other functions and/or access to high or low voltage power attraditional direct-contact receptacles or the like.

Changes and modifications in the specifically-described embodiments maybe carried out without departing from the principles of the presentinvention, which is intended to be limited only by the scope of theappended claims as interpreted according to the principles of patent lawincluding the doctrine of equivalents.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:
 1. An electrical articlefor use in a work area, said electrical article comprising: a housingincluding an upper surface, said housing configured to be supported at awork surface in the work area; a cordless charging zone defined along aportion of said upper surface; a electrical power transmission unitdisposed in said housing and having a cordless power output at saidcordless charging zone; an electrical outlet disposed along saidhousing, wherein said electrical outlet is configured to establish adirect electrical connection upon engagement with a correspondingelectrical contact of an electrical consumer; an electrical power inputconfigured to direct electrical power from a power source to saidelectrical power transmission unit and to said electrical outlet; andwherein said electrical power transmission unit is operable tocordlessly convey electrical power to a portable electrical orelectronic device positioned at said charging zone.
 2. The electricalarticle of claim 1, wherein said electrical outlet comprises a highvoltage AC outlet.
 3. The electrical article of claim 2, wherein saidhigh voltage AC outlet comprises one chosen from (i) a 110-volt outlet,(ii) a 220-volt outlet, and (iii) a light socket.
 4. The electricalarticle of claim 2, further comprising a low voltage DC outlet inelectrical communication with said electrical power input.
 5. Theelectrical article of claim 4, wherein said electrical powertransmission unit comprises an electrical power converter configured toconvert incoming high voltage AC power received from said electricalpower input to low voltage DC power output directed to said cordlesspower output and to said low voltage DC outlet.
 6. The electricalarticle of claim 5, wherein said electrical power input comprises anelectrical cord configured to carry high voltage AC current.
 7. Theelectrical article of claim 1, wherein said electrical outlet comprisesa low voltage DC outlet.
 8. The electrical article of claim 1, whereinsaid cordless power output comprises first and second exposed electricalconductors of alternating DC polarity, in spaced and substantiallyco-planar arrangement at said charging zone of said housing.
 9. Theelectrical article of claim 1, wherein said cordless power outputcomprises a wireless inductive electrical power output at said chargingzone of said housing.
 11. The electrical article of claim 1, whereinsaid housing comprises a lower portion configured to be inserted into anopening formed in the work surface and an upper portion forming a bezelpositioned at the work surface.
 12. The electrical article of claim 11,wherein: said housing further comprises a retractable portion comprisingsaid upper surface, wherein said retractable portion is pivotablebetween an open configuration and a closed configuration; said cordlesscharging zone is disposed at said retractable portion, whereby saidcharging zone is angled upwardly relative to the work surface when saidretractable portion is in the open configuration and said charging zoneis substantially horizontal when said retractable portion is in theclosed configuration; said electrical power transmission unit isoperable to cordlessly convey electrical power to the portableelectrical or electronic device positioned at said charging zone withsaid retractable portion in either of the open and closed positions; andsaid bezel and said charging zone cooperate to support the portableelectrical or electronic device when said retractable portion is in theopen position.
 12. The electrical article of claim 11, furthercomprising a clamp coupled to said housing and spaced below saidcharging zone, wherein a portion of said clamp is movable and configuredto engage an underside of said work surface to thereby secure saidhousing to said work surface.
 13. The electrical article of claim 1,further comprising an electronic display at said housing, wherein saidelectronic display is energized via said electrical power input.
 14. Theelectrical article of claim 1, further comprising an electric lampcoupled to a distal end portion of a mounting arm, said mounting armhaving a proximal end portion coupled to said housing.
 15. An electricalarticle for use in a work area, said electrical article comprising: ahousing including an upper surface, said housing configured to besupported at a work surface in the work area; a cordless charging zonedefined along a portion of said upper surface; a electrical powertransmission unit disposed in said housing and having a cordless poweroutput at said cordless charging zone; a high voltage AC power outletand a low voltage DC power outlet disposed along said housing, whereinsaid electrical outlets are configured to establish respective directelectrical connections upon engagement with corresponding electricalcontacts of respective electrical consumers; an electric lamp coupled tosaid housing and positioned above said upper surface; an electricalpower input configured to direct electrical power from a power source tosaid electrical power transmission unit, to said electrical outlets, andto said electric lamp; and wherein said electrical power transmissionunit is operable to cordlessly convey electrical power to a portableelectrical or electronic device positioned at said charging zone. 16.The electrical article of claim 15, wherein said cordless power outputcomprises first and second exposed electrical conductors of alternatingDC polarity, in spaced and substantially co-planar arrangement at saidcharging zone of said housing.
 17. The electrical article of claim 15,wherein said cordless power output comprises a wireless inductiveelectrical power output at said charging zone of said housing.
 18. Theelectrical article of claim 15, wherein said housing comprises a lowerportion configured to be inserted into an opening formed in the worksurface and an upper portion forming a bezel positioned at the worksurface.
 19. An electrical article for use in a work area, saidelectrical article comprising: a housing including an upper surface anda plurality of side surfaces extending downwardly from said uppersurface; a cordless charging zone defined along a portion of said uppersurface; a electrical power transmission unit disposed in said housingand having a cordless power output at said cordless charging zone; ahigh voltage AC power outlet and a low voltage DC power outlet disposedalong at least one of said side surfaces of said housing, wherein saidelectrical outlets are configured to establish respective directelectrical connections upon engagement with corresponding electricalcontacts of respective electrical consumers; an electrical power cordconfigured to receive electrical power from a high voltage AC powersource; and an electrical power converter configured to convert incominghigh voltage AC power received from said electrical power cord to lowvoltage DC power output directed to at least said low voltage DC outlet;wherein said electrical power transmission unit is operable tocordlessly convey electrical power to a portable electrical orelectronic device positioned at said charging zone.
 20. The electricalarticle of claim 19, further comprising a mounting arm having proximaland distal end portions, and an electric lamp coupled to said distal endportion of said mounting arm, wherein said proximal end portion of saidmounting arm is coupled to said housing.